TSA Awards $493 Million Contract To CSC

The Transportation Security Administration has replaced Unisys with Computer Sciences Corporation as its primary managed services provider in a five-year contract worth $493 million, the agency confirmed.

Unisys had been the incumbent provider for the TSA's Information Technology Infrastructure Program for the past 7 years under a $1 billion contract signed in 2002 and extended in 2005. However, this time around, the TSA decided to go in a different direction, opening competition to all the contractors who are part of the Department of Homeland Security's Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading Edge Solutions (EAGLE) contract vehicle.

As part of the ITIP contract, CSC will provide TSA with an extensive array of infrastructure services that will have CSC manage much of TSA's IT operations, including in areas like cybersecurity and hardware and software support, at TSA facilities worldwide. "This program ensures TSA can fulfill our mission at airports around the country using secure technology systems and receiving the support necessary to carry out our critical work," Dr. Emma Garrison-Alexander, TSA's assistant administrator for IT and CIO, said in a statement.

According to published plans, CSC's efforts will be led by former CSC CIO and current VP Pat Schambach as well as VP Mike Przepiora, and will include a number of partners like Lockheed Martin as well as technology from EMC, Cisco, Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, and Sun, among others.

CSC's contract includes a one-year base period and four one-year options. "CSC recognizes the critical role the Transportation Security Administration plays in protecting the nation's transportation systems," Aaron Fuller, president of CSC's North American public sector group, said in a statement. "We look forward to providing world-class information technology services that will improve the performance and reliability of the agency's infrastructure."

It's not clear why TSA decided to re-open ITIP to competition, instead of extending Unisys' deal, as had been done once before. The TSA was unable to respond to a request for comment in time for this report. However, the DHS inspector general criticized Unisys in 2006 for out of control costs, ineffective performance management, and dissatisfied customers.

"While we are disappointed not to have been selected to continue the ITIP program, Unisys is proud of the work we have done over the past seven years on behalf of TSA and the American public," a Unisys spokesman said in an e-mail.

InformationWeek Analytics has published an analysis of managed security services. Download the report here (registration required).